Former University of Colorado golfer Sebastian Heisele has competed primarily on the European Tour in 2017, but a runner-up finish on the developmental European Challenge Tour on Sunday has helped his cause considerably in his quest to keep his Euro Tour card for another season.
Heisele (pictured in a Twitter photo), who played golf for the Buffs from 2008 through ’11, shot rounds of 67-70-69-69 for a 13-under-par 275, good for second place in the Foshan Open in Foshan City, China. He finished five strokes behind champion Oliver Farr.
The 46,294 euros Heisele earned vaulted him into 13th place on the 2017 Challenge Tour’s money list, also known as The Road to Oman. (Oct. 29 Update: After a 33rd-place showing in the Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge that ended on Oct. 29, Heisele dropped into the 15th spot on the money list.)
After the upcoming final two tournaments on the Challenge Tour season, the top 15 on The Road to Oman list will earn 2017-18 European Tour cards.
“Decision to forgo @EuropeanTour #AVM2017 and play @Challenge_Tour #FoshanOpen might have just saved my card,” Heisele said on Twitter on Sunday.
Heisele has played in 20 European Tour events this season and ranks 142nd on the money list, with 210,332 euros. He’s earned another 80,612 euros on the Challenge Tour. He’s recorded two top-four finishes on the European Tour this year.
